208 Field Museum or Natural History — Anth., Vol. X. 



ancient text by which the arrangement of the single ornaments in the 

 given order would be backed up. We can only say that it may have 

 been so, but that it must not have been that way. The connection 

 of the single articles by means of bead laces is also doubtful. The 

 verses quoted from the Shi king have shown us that there were other 

 girdle-ornaments like the yao and kiu entering the girdle-pendants, 

 but which are not known to the archaeologists. Further, we know 

 from literary records as well as from a large number of specimens which 



Pig. 109. 

 Lower Central Piece of Gi f die-Pendant (from Ku yii t'u p'u). 



have come down to us that there were other types of girdle-ornaments. 

 Rings, half -rings and miniature imitations of implements are prom- 

 inent in this group. I may first be allowed to review the material in 

 our collection. 



Figure 2 of Plate XXVIII is of a peculiar jade yellow in color and 

 spotted brown and red; in shape similar to Fig. 1 on the same Plate, 

 but not perforated. The same design of spirals engraved on the 

 upper surface appears also on the lower face. To the upper edge, 

 the figure of a hydra (chHh) l is attached in openwork carving, the 

 whole being cut out of one stone. It is 7.2 cm long, 2.3 cm wide and 

 7 mm thick. This object belongs to the type of half-rings called 

 kiieh which played such an important r61e in the life of antiquity on 

 account of a peculiar symbolism attached to it (see p. 210). 



The two specimens reproduced in their original size in Figs. 3 and 

 4 of the same Plate are most remarkable for the brilliancy of their 

 technique; they are both ornamental adzes worn as girdle-pendants. 

 The piece in Fig. 3 is a flat carving showing exactly the same designs 

 and colors on both sides. The axe itself is of a grayish-white color; 



1 Chinese explained to me this figure as a tiger, but I see no basis for this suppo- 

 sition. 



